PRS Tremonti Shootout - SE vs USA Core vs USA Artist - Comprehensive Review & Sound Test

Are you looking to purchase a PRS Tremonti signature model? Have you ever wondered what the difference was between the Tremonti SE and the USA Core counterparts?
Watch this video to learn the differences between the Korean SE models and the USA Core and Artist models. Hear the guitars by themselves without mixing, EQ's, compression or other instruments to help you make up your mind.
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All riffs in this video are written by AJ from modern guitars with the exception of the riff from the "Low Gain" sound test, which is "Wicked Garden" by Stone Temple Pilots.

[@ScottMacLeodCompany]

Best comparison video I've seen on these 2. I just bought the SE, so it's good to know.

[@jimo4106]

I picked up a used 2019 MIK SE. They call it charcoal burst, but it's more like deep emerald green with 10-top appearance on the flame veneer. The stock neck pickup is fantastically clear with great note separation...more so than the Duncan Jazz model IMO. And the bridge pickup just roars with a dirty amp. Once I filed the nut slots a little wider and tweaked the trem' springs, this one stays in tune very nicely. Plus a trem' on an LP is a rarity. There is just nothing I would change including tuners. They work fine. This pattern-thin neck plays like a dream and she weighs just north of 8 lbs. The core looks beautiful, but I don't think I could justify the extra cost when this SE is just so good. PRS (and Tremonti) deserve some real credit for taking the LP model into the future. Gibson got stuck in 1959 and never looked forward.

[@andyvoss5674]

Excellent comparison, I just bought the Core model.

[@stevenausten9935]

Great comparison, I have a core model with tremolo and the sound and build quality is just superb

[@DahonDroca]

Awesome video AJ

[@ayong8]

Very nice review. I own an SE Model and I think it is built for all night playing 😄. Very thin and light.

[@rnodern]

Thanks, mate!

[@The_Macaroon]

You can pick up SE first version for good prices these days, but im hanging out for the later ones will full thickness and better pichups. How do you think these compare to the McCarthy 594 SE?

[@johnpereira9594]

Awesome man. Very helpful

[@frankiechan9651]

Nice comparison. Also good to see more fellow Aussies making content on YT - from the initial G'day to the Tray-monti - proud and out Aussie :) I wasn't aware that the earlier sig models were that much thinner and were all mahogany (or whatever the SE-Asian equivalent wood is) Any idea what pickups were in your SE? I think the newer ones have the 245S's which most SE's seem to come stock with. Also what pickups come in the core and Artist models? I have a 2021 Zach Myers and that has mahogany/maple cap/veneer and the 245S's.

[@rnodern]

G'day, thanks for the comment. The Cores have signature Tremonti (Tray-monti ;)) treble and bass. The SE's have their own Tremonti pickup versions with various revisions over the years, however I had changed the bridge pickup to a Dimebag "Dimebucker" SH-13.

[@thomasVA9707]

im planing on just getting the core bridge pickup for my tremonti se, its cheap, and then the difference will be gone imo, what do you think?

[@tractorgt]

It may have been interesting to note that the neck profiles have changed over the years as well. From what I understand it is now closer to an SE standard/custom neck, wide thin. I remember playing one of these guitars at Sam Ash around 04, and the neck was way fatter than my Les Paul. So much so I wasn't interested. I have an SE standard that I love and I'm hoping the new Tremonti has the same neck like it says.

[@charlesblack4565]

Great video!!

[@rnodern]

Thanks mate. Haha no I’m not selling it, sorry.

[@donnywoodruff1052]

What is that song at about 6.43? Love it

[@petkopeet]

Is there much diffrence in feel between wide fat and thin neck carvs?

[@mausashi]

Awesome content!

[@rnodern]

Appreciate it!

[@Milpup]

See your S.E, its got a Seymour Duncan in the bridge. Was the sound from the bridge the original stock pick-up, or the Seymour Duncan?

[@FormedemonCoeur]

What year is the SE model? The 2017 version was upgraded slightly and more depth, heavier.

[@rnodern]

It’s a 2003 - the first release

[@volanterodas]

nice vid bro! i got the 2001 se tremonti (love it) the only thing had change was the pups for emgs passive and tuners gotoh non locking and tusk nut. u cant go wrong with prs superb quality sound for the price. bough mine almost new in 2005 for 350 pounds great deal. i wont sell it ever.

[@AverageTony74]

Its pronounced as TREM--ONTI. Good video thou, i hope you get more followers. Well done!.

[@andresaries9267]

you prolly dont give a shit but if you are stoned like me atm then you can watch all the new movies on InstaFlixxer. Been watching with my gf for the last couple of weeks xD

[@shepardprinceton3110]

@Andres Aries yup, been watching on InstaFlixxer for since december myself :)

[@p.c.1019]

Liked the core sound best, but I’d love to hear more about playability. If they’re similar, the SE for sure. Obviously fit and finish comes with the upper 2, but could a decent luthier make them equal or close? Was your SE professionally set up first? I’m guessing yeah. Anyway…just some thoughts to make a stronger comparison? Great video regardless🤘🏽

[@rnodern]

The SE apparently have a Wide Thin neck profile, however my SE (it's an original from early 2000's) is more of a vintage C. A thicker neck to the cores. I prefer the wide thin profile on the core, but profile is down to personal taste. The SE has a shallower top carve so if you tend to rest your arm on the body, the core may impact you more. i.e. the shallower carve on the SE is better for fatigue if resting the arm on the body. The other thing I've noticed supplementary to playability - the strap buttons - they come loose on the SE easily. Needing something to keep the screw in tight. Additionally, the guitar jack ALWAYS comes loose. I'm forever tightening the bolt around the jack. Lastly, locking tuners are super super convenient, but you can get PRS SE locking tuners.. The SE's are fucking amazing guitars for the money!

[@pc2908]

@@rnodern Thanks so much for the detailed reply & killer info! Just on a different note, I feel I’m a lucky owner of a USA 25th anniversary McCarty Narrowfield that now seems extremely rare. Frikkin’ love that axe! She’s the pride and joy of my limited collection. My only new bought guitar, and I cherish every moment of playing her. Also own a Korean SE Floyd that stays in tune no matter how hard I thrash her! Paul is a an absolute treasure to American guitar building. Thanks again for the awesome info!

[@GeronimoBiggles]

i have a brand new core model and a 2017 SE. The SE has a bigger, fatter, more contoured body which must be completely opposite to the early SE model that you have.

[@rnodern]

Thanks for the comment. Yeah the original SE models were super thin and light weight. I’m okay with that though. Being 2m tall (6’6”) I often get back pain playing live or rehearsing for long periods. It’s a lot friendlier in the back :D

[@sergey9627]

@@rnodern Tremonti SEs were two versions - SE standart (your guitar) - thin body without maple top and dot inlay , and Tremonti SE Custom - fatter w/maple top and tremolo and birds inlays a have both of them.

[@jonsnow7092]

@@sergey9627 that's true for the older SE Tremonti series. In the past few years, they changed the SE standards pretty significantly. the current standards (different than the one in the video that's likely an early 2010's model) have much thicker and heavier bodies, tremolo, bindings, bird inlays and a bunch of other minor features. They do come with maple necks and no maple cap as opposed to higher tier tremontis that follow a more traditional construction but the pickups are way better than the older tremonti standards; and now the same tremonti S pups are shared between the SE standard and SE custom. Not sure how pricing will settle in time for the 2021 refreshed lineup (they seem to have bumped the prices on all their guitars) but the SE Tremonti Standard used to be the cheapest PRS, tied or even below other SE standards; while, at the same time being one of the most over-specked SEs in the entire lineup. I've got my 2018 Tremonti SE brand new for under 450 EUR and it's a fantastic instrument. sounds, looks and feels amazing.

[@Berserker26]

I couldn't quite tell but it looked like you were using the Marshall for the High Gain? Would you do it again with the Dual Rec you have sitting there?

[@rnodern]

Sure, I can play them through the dual rec. I used the Marshall because I don’t have to crank it as loud. The Mesa is just so loud 😅

[@zacking2112]

Did you happen to buy that core tremonti from a place called Barnett music exchange in tulsa Oklahoma

[@rnodern]

Hey mate, yeah nah, Australia

[@MarshallAmpMan]

nice demo but it sounds like the G string is slightly flat. But nice demo anyway.

[@elchacon6304]

You have a great voice.

[@rnodern]

😂 thanks, buddy!

[@xriz8409]

i liked the core the most... clean it had that nice depth, sounded rounder...LPish (?) :)

[@ashleyjackson8538]

I’m lured in by the maple necks .

[@user-mt4vo4ey5n]

If I indeed I am correct, the SE has plastic inlays, while the core has mother of pearl. $900 guitar the SE, and they can't pay an Indonesian worker that makes $3/hr to do abalone? Well, I don't make guitars so what do I know.

[@rnodern]

I expect there are multiple reasons to choose plastic over abalone. Primarily, overall cost per unit (inlay). It would be far cheaper in both resources and human effort to use plastic moulded inlays than manually cutting them from sheets of abalone shell. Another reason is around product design/business strategy. It’s the same reason you won’t find a Core top carve on an SE. It can technically be done, but if the SE’s are made to be clones of US-made cores, there would be an element of market cannibalism which may damage sales of core models. As such, there needs to be discernible differences in product design distinguishing the difference in tiers in their product offerings.

[@victorambe3885]

Why does he pronounce Marks last name Tray monti?

[@rnodern]

2 reasons. 1. I’m Australian if you couldn’t tell. That’s how I pronounce it. 2. It’s an Italian surname. This is more or less how the Italians pronounce it, but with an apical-alveolar trill, or rolled R.

[@victorambe3885]

Ok got it but that's not how he pronounces it

[@rnodern]

@ he’s American. That’s how he pronounces it.

[@riansfn5380]

The only difference I hear is the core has more presence than the SE.

[@brandensoutdoorb-channel8084]

I have the 2021 Trey-Monti SE lol

[@rnodern]

I’m an Aussie. That’s how I pronounce it. It’s an Italian name, technically it should also have a rolled R kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqeuc5Voia5pg6M

[@Brati999]

He probebly thinks locking tuners helps with tuning. Change perfect tuner are just stupid. Nothing else. The pickups could be changed, but its not nessesery if you play well!

[@rnodern]

The locking tuners are convenient if nothing else. You’re not winding the string around the tuner pole numerous times, as with standard tuner poles, so there is less room for string movement. Therefore, objectively more stable than standard tuners.

[@dw22509]

@@rnodern this ^^

[@mr.nobody68]

Tremonti is pronounced like tremolo. There's no A in Tremonti

[@rnodern]

Thanks for the comment. I’m an Aussie. Just how I pronounce it. It is an Italian surname. It should also have a rolled R kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqeuc5Voia5pg6M